High alert on IB as LeT planning suicide attack

Deepak Khajuria. Updated: 12/31/2017 11:27:45 PM

JAMMU: Following strong inputs that Pakistan based terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) may send suicide attackers (Fidayeen) into Indian Territory and is planning to execute attack on yet another security installation, high alert has been sounded on International Border from Jammu to Gurdaspur.Sources in BSF confirmed that high-alert has been sounded on entire 198 kilometers long Indo-Pak International Border and also over 50-km long International Border from Kathua to Gurdaspur as this is the sensitive area from where terrorists may sneak in Indian area. "Extra deployment has been made on the IB and BSF personnel from head quarters have also been shifted and deployed on the IB as the alert will continue till January 3," said official sources.They added that the input was received a week ago. The year-end is anyway the most sensitive time for the infiltration bid as is the beginning of new-year for execution of the attack, if we go by the inputs shared with army and BSF by the Intelligence Agencies. It may be mentioned here that January 2 is also the second anniversary of the Pathankot Air Force Station attack, when in wee hours of the ill-fated day in 2016, four armed terrorists had attacked the Air Base.According to the input, a group of 8-10 Lashkar terrorists is ready at the launching pads opposite to IB, especially from Samba sector to Dinanagar. "They may divide this group into three small groups and attempt to infiltrate, whichever group succeeds, if they succeed, will execute the attack on security installation," added sources.Sources also said that at a time when Lashkar Chief Hafiz Sayeed is seen in public rallies at Pak and set free by Pak Court, he has reportedly increased his activities and liasoned with another dreaded group of Maulana Masood Azhar, Jaish-e-Mohammad to execute more attacks on forces in J&K. "While Pakistan has already engaged Indian army in ceasefire violations at Line of Control, the International Border is relatively calm and they can take benefit of this," they said.Meanwhile, the security of all the vital army and other security forces installations including police stations located in the border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua are under high alert along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway."The night patrols along the International border have been beefed up and 'naka' points have been equipped with night vision devices, thermal imagers to maintain a tight vigil on the suspicious movement of infiltrators close to the barbed wire fence. This is also done in the close co-ordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police till Lakhanpur and with Punjab Police in Dinanagar and Gurdaspur areas," said official sources.The BSF patrol parties are also regularly monitoring loose soil in vulnerable areas to detect presence of any under construction cross border tunnel. Pak rangers in the past have been found aiding infiltrators dig out cross border tunnel to sneak inside the Indian Territory, whereas all the culverts and streamlets adjoining to the IB are being searched by the BSF patrolling parties.Other than this, Jammu Police has also increased checking at the roads leading to the IB and nakas at entry and exit points have been increased on the occasion of New Year.SSP Jammu, Vivek Gupta said that extra deployment has been made in and around the city and the number of checking points at all entry and exit points have also been increased. "There is no need to panic. Everything is under control and situation is peaceful," added the SSP.